Fluid routing methods for a spiral heat exchanger with lattice cross section made via additive manufacturing

Abstract

A spiral heat exchanger features: a cold fluid inlet manifold, a hot fluid inlet manifold and at least one spiral fluid pathway. The cold fluid inlet manifold receives cold fluid and provide cold inlet manifold fluid. The hot fluid inlet manifold receives hot fluid and provide hot inlet manifold fluid. The at least one spiral fluid pathway includes cold spiral pathways configured to receive the cold inlet manifold fluid and provide cold spiral fluid pathway fluid, and hot spiral pathways configured to receive the hot inlet manifold fluid and provide hot spiral fluid pathway fluid. The cold spiral pathways and the hot spiral pathways are configured in relation to one another to exchange heat between the cold spiral pathway fluid and the hot spiral pathway fluid so that the hot spiral fluid pathway fluid warms the cold spiral fluid pathway fluid, and vice versa.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A heat exchanger comprising:
 a spiral counter fluid flow arrangement having separate cold and hot spiral working fluid flows, having a cold fluid spiral heat exchanger part with a cold fluid path ( 1 ) for providing a cold working fluid flow spirally through the heat exchanger, having a hot fluid spiral heat exchange part with a hot fluid path ( 2 ) for providing a hot working fluid flow spirally through the heat exchanger, and being made and manufactured using an additive manufacturing process; 
 the cold fluid path ( 1 ) having
 a cold fluid inlet ( 1   a ) configured to receive the cold working fluid flow as cold inlet fluid having a cold inlet fluid temperature and provide the cold inlet fluid in bulk, 
 cold inner route spiral paths ( 1   b ) configured to receive the cold inlet fluid in bulk, and provide multiple cold inlet fluid flows, 
 a cold inner manifold ( 1   c ) configured to receive the multiple cold inlet fluid flows, and provide distributed inlet manifold cold fluid flows, 
 cold spiral fluid pathways ( 1   d ) configured to receive the distributed inlet manifold cold fluid flows and provide cold spiral fluid pathway fluid flows having a corresponding cold fluid temperature that is greater than the cold inlet fluid temperature, 
 a cold outlet manifold ( 1   e ) configured to receive the cold spiral fluid pathway fluid flows, and provide distributed outlet manifold cold fluid flows, 
 cold outlet route spiral paths ( 1   f ) configured to receive the distributed outlet manifold cold fluid flows, and provide multiple cold outlet fluid flows, and 
 a cold fluid outlet ( 1   g ) configured to receive the multiple cold outlet fluid flows and provide cold outlet fluid in bulk having another corresponding cold fluid temperature that is greater than the cold fluid temperature of the fluid within the cold fluid pathway fluid flows; and 
 
 the hot fluid path ( 2 ) having
 a hot fluid inlet ( 2   a ) configured to receive the hot working fluid flow as hot inlet fluid having a hot inlet fluid temperature that is greater than the cold inlet temperature of the cold inlet fluid and provide the hot inlet fluid in bulk, 
 hot inner route spiral paths ( 2   b ) configured to receive the hot inlet fluid in bulk, and provide multiple hot inlet fluid flows, 
 a hot inner manifold ( 2   c ) configured to receive the multiple hot inlet fluid flows, and provide distributed inlet manifold hot fluid flows, 
 hot spiral fluid pathways ( 2   d ) configured to receive the distributed inlet manifold hot fluid flows and provide hot spiral fluid pathway fluid flows having a corresponding hot fluid temperature that is less than the hot inlet fluid temperature, 
 a hot outlet manifold ( 2   e ) configured to receive the hot spiral fluid pathway fluid flows, and provide distributed outlet manifold hot fluid flows, 
 hot outlet route spiral paths ( 2   f ) configured to receive the distributed outlet manifold hot fluid flows, and provide multiple hot outlet fluid flows, and 
 a hot fluid outlet ( 2   g ) configured to receive the multiple hot outlet fluid flows and provide hot outlet fluid in bulk having another corresponding hot fluid temperature that is less than the hot fluid temperature of the fluid within the hot fluid pathway fluid flows; 
 
 the spiral counter fluid flow arrangement being configured to cause a heat exchange so that the cold spiral fluid pathway fluid flows receive heat from the hot spiral fluid pathway fluid flows, and the hot spiral fluid pathway fluid flows transfer heat to the cold spiral fluid pathway fluid flows. 
 
     
     
       2. The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the cold fluid inlet ( 1   a ) is a tubular section near a center part of the heat exchanger, and the hot fluid inlet ( 2   a ) is a corresponding tubular section near an outer part of the heat exchanger, or vice versa. 
     
     
       3. The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the cold inner route paths ( 1   b ) comprises multiple inner pathways configured to break up the cold inlet fluid into the multiple cold inlet fluid flows. 
     
     
       4. The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the cold outer route paths ( 1   f ) comprises multiple outer pathways configured to combine the distributed outlet manifold cold fluid flows into the multiple cold outlet fluid flows. 
     
     
       5. The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the hot inner route paths ( 2   b ) comprises multiple outer pathways configured to break up the hot inlet fluid into the multiple hot inlet fluid flows. 
     
     
       6. The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the hot outer route paths ( 2   f ) comprises multiple outer pathways configured to combine the distributed outlet manifold hot fluid flows into the multiple hot outlet fluid flows. 
     
     
       7. A heat exchanger comprising:
 a spiral counter fluid flow arrangement having separate cold and hot spiral working fluid flows, having a cold fluid heat exchanger part with a cold fluid path ( 1 ) for providing a cold working fluid flow spirally through the heat exchanger, having a hot fluid heat exchange part with a hot fluid path ( 2 ) for providing a hot working fluid flow spirally through the heat exchanger, and being made and manufactured using an additive manufacturing process; 
 the cold fluid path ( 1 ) having
 a cold fluid inlet ( 1   a ) configured to receive the cold working fluid flow as cold inlet fluid having a cold inlet fluid temperature and provide the cold inlet fluid in bulk, 
 a cold inlet manifold arrangement ( 1   b ,  1   c ) configured to receive the cold inlet fluid in bulk, and provide distributed inlet manifold cold fluid flows, 
 cold spiral fluid pathways ( 1   d ) configured to receive the distributed inlet manifold cold fluid flows and provide cold spiral fluid pathway fluid flows having a corresponding cold fluid temperature that is greater than the cold inlet fluid temperature, 
 a cold outlet manifold arrangement ( 1   e ,  1   f ) configured to receive the cold spiral fluid pathway fluid flows, and provide multiple cold outlet fluid flows, and 
 a cold fluid outlet ( 1   g ) configured to receive the multiple cold outlet fluid flows and provide cold outlet fluid in bulk having another corresponding cold fluid temperature that is greater than the cold fluid temperature of the fluid within the cold fluid pathway fluid flows; and 
 
 the hot fluid path ( 2 ) having
 a hot fluid inlet ( 2   a ) configured to receive the hot working fluid flow as hot inlet fluid having a hot inlet fluid temperature that is greater than the cold inlet temperature of the cold inlet fluid and provide the hot inlet fluid in bulk, 
 a hot inlet manifold arrangement ( 2   b ,  2   c ) configured to receive the hot inlet fluid in bulk, and provide distributed inlet manifold hot fluid flows, 
 hot spiral fluid pathways ( 2   d ) configured to receive the distributed inlet manifold hot fluid flows and provide hot spiral fluid pathway fluid flows having a corresponding hot fluid temperature that is less than the hot inlet fluid temperature, 
 a hot outlet manifold arrangement ( 2   e ,  2   f ) configured to receive the hot spiral fluid pathway fluid flows, and provide multiple hot outlet fluid flows, and 
 a hot fluid outlet ( 2   g ) configured to receive the multiple hot outlet fluid flows and provide hot outlet fluid in bulk having another corresponding hot fluid temperature that is greater than the hot fluid temperature of the fluid within the hot fluid pathway fluid flows; 
 
 the cold spiral fluid pathways ( 1   d ) and the hot spiral fluid pathways ( 2   d ) being configured to cause a heat exchange so that the cold spiral fluid pathway fluid flows receive heat from the hot spiral fluid pathway fluid flows, and the hot spiral fluid pathway fluid flows transfer heat to the cold spiral fluid pathway fluid flows; 
 wherein the cold inlet manifold arrangement ( 1   b ,  1   c ) comprises
 cold inner route paths ( 1   b ) configured to receive the cold inlet fluid in bulk, and provide multiple cold inlet fluid flows; and 
 a cold inner manifold ( 1   c ) configured to receive the multiple cold inlet fluid flows, and provide the distributed inlet manifold cold fluid flows. 
 
 
     
     
       8. The heat exchanger according to  claim 7 , wherein the cold inner route paths ( 1   b ) comprises multiple inner pathways configured to break up the cold inlet fluid into the multiple cold inlet fluid flows. 
     
     
       9. The heat exchanger according to  claim 7 , wherein the cold fluid inlet ( 1   a ) is a tubular section near a center part of the heat exchanger, and the hot fluid inlet ( 2   a ) is a corresponding tubular section near an outer part of the heat exchanger, or vice versa. 
     
     
       10. The heat exchanger according to  claim 7 , wherein the cold spiral fluid pathways ( 1   d ) and the hot spiral fluid pathways ( 2   d ) are interwoven and form an integral spiral fluid pathway ( 1   d ,  2   d ). 
     
     
       11. The heat exchanger according to  claim 10 , wherein the cold spiral fluid pathways ( 1   d ) and the hot spiral fluid pathways ( 2   d ) have a lattice cross-section. 
     
     
       12. A heat exchanger comprising:
 a spiral counter fluid flow arrangement having separate cold and hot spiral working fluid flows, having a cold fluid heat exchanger part with a cold fluid path ( 1 ) for providing a cold working fluid flow spirally through the heat exchanger, having a hot fluid heat exchange part with a hot fluid path ( 2 ) for providing a hot working fluid flow spirally through the heat exchanger, and being made and manufactured using an additive manufacturing process; 
 the cold fluid path ( 1 ) having
 a cold fluid inlet ( 1   a ) configured to receive the cold working fluid flow as cold inlet fluid having a cold inlet fluid temperature and provide the cold inlet fluid in bulk, 
 a cold inlet manifold arrangement ( 1   b ,  1   c ) configured to receive the cold inlet fluid in bulk, and provide distributed inlet manifold cold fluid flows, 
 cold spiral fluid pathways ( 1   d ) configured to receive the distributed inlet manifold cold fluid flows and provide cold spiral fluid pathway fluid flows having a corresponding cold fluid temperature that is greater than the cold inlet fluid temperature, 
 a cold outlet manifold arrangement ( 1   e ,  1   f ) configured to receive the cold spiral fluid pathway fluid flows, and provide multiple cold outlet fluid flows, and 
 a cold fluid outlet ( 1   g ) configured to receive the multiple cold outlet fluid flows and provide cold outlet fluid in bulk having another corresponding cold fluid temperature that is greater than the cold fluid temperature of the fluid within the cold fluid pathway fluid flows; and 
 
 the hot fluid path ( 2 ) having
 a hot fluid inlet ( 2   a ) configured to receive the hot working fluid flow as hot inlet fluid having a hot inlet fluid temperature that is greater than the cold inlet temperature of the cold inlet fluid and provide the hot inlet fluid in bulk, 
 a hot inlet manifold arrangement ( 2   b ,  2   c ) configured to receive the hot inlet fluid in bulk, and provide distributed inlet manifold hot fluid flows, 
 hot spiral fluid pathways ( 2   d ) configured to receive the distributed inlet manifold hot fluid flows and provide hot spiral fluid pathway fluid flows having a corresponding hot fluid temperature that is less than the hot inlet fluid temperature, 
 a hot outlet manifold arrangement ( 2   e ,  2   f ) configured to receive the hot spiral fluid pathway fluid flows, and provide multiple hot outlet fluid flows, and 
 a hot fluid outlet ( 2   g ) configured to receive the multiple hot outlet fluid flows and provide hot outlet fluid in bulk having another corresponding hot fluid temperature that is greater than the hot fluid temperature of the fluid within the hot fluid pathway fluid flows; 
 
 the cold spiral fluid pathways ( 1   d ) and the hot spiral fluid pathways ( 2   d ) being configured to cause a heat exchange so that the cold spiral fluid pathway fluid flows receive heat from the hot spiral fluid pathway fluid flows, and the hot spiral fluid pathway fluid flows transfer heat to the cold spiral fluid pathway fluid flows; 
 wherein the cold outlet manifold arrangement ( 1   e ,  1   f ) comprises:
 a cold outlet manifold ( 1   e ) configured to receive the cold spiral fluid pathway fluid flows, and provide distributed outlet manifold cold fluid flows; and 
 cold outlet route paths ( 1   f ) configured to receive the distributed outlet manifold cold fluid flows, and provide the multiple cold outlet fluid flows. 
 
 
     
     
       13. The heat exchanger according to  claim 12 , wherein the cold outer route paths ( 1   f ) comprises multiple outer pathways configured to combine the distributed outlet manifold cold fluid flows into the multiple cold outlet fluid flows. 
     
     
       14. A heat exchanger comprising:
 a spiral counter fluid flow arrangement having separate cold and hot spiral working fluid flows, having a cold fluid heat exchanger part with a cold fluid path ( 1 ) for providing a cold working fluid flow spirally through the heat exchanger, having a hot fluid heat exchange part with a hot fluid path ( 2 ) for providing a hot working fluid flow spirally through the heat exchanger, and being made and manufactured using an additive manufacturing process; 
 the cold fluid path ( 1 ) having
 a cold fluid inlet ( 1   a ) configured to receive the cold working fluid flow as cold inlet fluid having a cold inlet fluid temperature and provide the cold inlet fluid in bulk, 
 a cold inlet manifold arrangement ( 1   b ,  1   c ) configured to receive the cold inlet fluid in bulk, and provide distributed inlet manifold cold fluid flows, 
 cold spiral fluid pathways ( 1   d ) configured to receive the distributed inlet manifold cold fluid flows and provide cold spiral fluid pathway fluid flows having a corresponding cold fluid temperature that is greater than the cold inlet fluid temperature, 
 a cold outlet manifold arrangement ( 1   e ,  1   f ) configured to receive the cold spiral fluid pathway fluid flows, and provide multiple cold outlet fluid flows, and 
 a cold fluid outlet ( 1   g ) configured to receive the multiple cold outlet fluid flows and provide cold outlet fluid in bulk having another corresponding cold fluid temperature that is greater than the cold fluid temperature of the fluid within the cold fluid pathway fluid flows; and 
 
 the hot fluid path ( 2 ) having
 a hot fluid inlet ( 2   a ) configured to receive the hot working fluid flow as hot inlet fluid having a hot inlet fluid temperature that is greater than the cold inlet temperature of the cold inlet fluid and provide the hot inlet fluid in bulk, 
 a hot inlet manifold arrangement ( 2   b ,  2   c ) configured to receive the hot inlet fluid in bulk, and provide distributed inlet manifold hot fluid flows, 
 hot spiral fluid pathways ( 2   d ) configured to receive the distributed inlet manifold hot fluid flows and provide hot spiral fluid pathway fluid flows having a corresponding hot fluid temperature that is less than the hot inlet fluid temperature, 
 a hot outlet manifold arrangement ( 2   e ,  2   f ) configured to receive the hot spiral fluid pathway fluid flows, and provide multiple hot outlet fluid flows, and 
 a hot fluid outlet ( 2   g ) configured to receive the multiple hot outlet fluid flows and provide hot outlet fluid in bulk having another corresponding hot fluid temperature that is greater than the hot fluid temperature of the fluid within the hot fluid pathway fluid flows; 
 
 the cold spiral fluid pathways ( 1   d ) and the hot spiral fluid pathways ( 2   d ) being configured to cause a heat exchange so that the cold spiral fluid pathway fluid flows receive heat from the hot spiral fluid pathway fluid flows, and the hot spiral fluid pathway fluid flows transfer heat to the cold spiral fluid pathway fluid flows; 
 wherein the hot inlet manifold arrangement ( 2   b ,  2   c ) comprises:
 hot inner route paths ( 2   b ) configured to receive the hot inlet fluid in bulk, and provide multiple hot inlet fluid flows; and 
 a hot inner manifold ( 2   c ) configured to receive the multiple hot inlet fluid flows, and provide the distributed inlet manifold hot fluid flows. 
 
 
     
     
       15. The heat exchanger according to  claim 14 , wherein the hot inner route paths ( 2   b ) comprises multiple inner pathways configured to break up the hot inlet fluid into the multiple hot inlet fluid flows. 
     
     
       16. A heat exchanger comprising:
 a spiral counter fluid flow arrangement having separate cold and hot spiral working fluid flows, having a cold fluid heat exchanger part with a cold fluid path ( 1 ) for providing a cold working fluid flow spirally through the heat exchanger, having a hot fluid heat exchange part with a hot fluid path ( 2 ) for providing a hot working fluid flow spirally through the heat exchanger, and being made and manufactured using an additive manufacturing process; 
 the cold fluid path ( 1 ) having
 a cold fluid inlet ( 1   a ) configured to receive the cold working fluid flow as cold inlet fluid having a cold inlet fluid temperature and provide the cold inlet fluid in bulk, 
 a cold inlet manifold arrangement ( 1   b ,  1   c ) configured to receive the cold inlet fluid in bulk, and provide distributed inlet manifold cold fluid flows, 
 cold spiral fluid pathways ( 1   d ) configured to receive the distributed inlet manifold cold fluid flows and provide cold spiral fluid pathway fluid flows having a corresponding cold fluid temperature that is greater than the cold inlet fluid temperature, 
 a cold outlet manifold arrangement ( 1   e ,  1   f ) configured to receive the cold spiral fluid pathway fluid flows, and provide multiple cold outlet fluid flows, and 
 a cold fluid outlet ( 1   g ) configured to receive the multiple cold outlet fluid flows and provide cold outlet fluid in bulk having another corresponding cold fluid temperature that is greater than the cold fluid temperature of the fluid within the cold fluid pathway fluid flows; and 
 
 the hot fluid path ( 2 ) having
 a hot fluid inlet ( 2   a ) configured to receive the hot working fluid flow as hot inlet fluid having a hot inlet fluid temperature that is greater than the cold inlet temperature of the cold inlet fluid and provide the hot inlet fluid in bulk, 
 a hot inlet manifold arrangement ( 2   b ,  2   c ) configured to receive the hot inlet fluid in bulk, and provide distributed inlet manifold hot fluid flows, 
 hot spiral fluid pathways ( 2   d ) configured to receive the distributed inlet manifold hot fluid flows and provide hot spiral fluid pathway fluid flows having a corresponding hot fluid temperature that is less than the hot inlet fluid temperature, 
 a hot outlet manifold arrangement ( 2   e ,  2   f ) configured to receive the hot spiral fluid pathway fluid flows, and provide multiple hot outlet fluid flows, and 
 a hot fluid outlet ( 2   g ) configured to receive the multiple hot outlet fluid flows and provide hot outlet fluid in bulk having another corresponding hot fluid temperature that is greater than the hot fluid temperature of the fluid within the hot fluid pathway fluid flows; 
 
 the cold spiral fluid pathways ( 1   d ) and the hot spiral fluid pathways ( 2   d ) being configured to cause a heat exchange so that the cold spiral fluid pathway fluid flows receive heat from the hot spiral fluid pathway fluid flows, and the hot spiral fluid pathway fluid flows transfer heat to the cold spiral fluid pathway fluid flows; 
 wherein the hot outlet manifold arrangement ( 2   e ,  2   f ) comprises:
 a hot outlet manifold ( 2   e ) configured to receive the hot spiral fluid pathway fluid flows, and provide distributed outlet manifold hot fluid flows; and 
 hot outlet route paths ( 2   f ) configured to receive the distributed outlet manifold hot fluid flows, and provide the multiple hot outlet fluid flows. 
 
 
     
     
       17. The heat exchanger according to  claim 16 , wherein the hot outer route paths ( 2   f ) comprises multiple outer pathways configured to combine the distributed outlet manifold hot fluid flows into the multiple hot outlet fluid flows.